Chemical Reactions and Equations: common misconceptions

If your child says… “Any visible change means a reaction.”

Ask together

What substance is the crumpled sheet made from?

What’s true

Changing shape need not produce another substance.

If your child says… “I can change magnesium oxide’s small numbers.”

Ask together

Would changing magnesium oxide’s formula still describe magnesium oxide?

What’s true

Change only the numbers before formulae, never the numbers inside them.

If your child says… “A reaction gets only one name.”

Ask together

Does counting products tell us whether heat leaves?

What’s true

Different labels describe different features.

If your child says… “Only heating breaks compounds apart.”

Ask together

What supplies energy when silver chloride breaks down in sunlight?

What’s true

The energy source depends on the compound.

If your child says… “Any metal can replace another.”

Ask together

Which metal replaces the other?

What’s true

A metal can displace a less reactive metal from its salt solution.

If your child says… “Only the solid forms.”

Ask together

Where are sodium and chloride?

What’s true

Here, sodium chloride stays dissolved and forms no visible solid.

If your child says… “Losing oxygen means oxidation.”

Ask together

Where does copper oxide’s oxygen appear afterwards?

What’s true

Oxygen loss or hydrogen gain means reduction, while oxygen gain or hydrogen loss means oxidation.

If your child says… “Paint changes rust back into iron.”

Ask together

Does covering the rust remove what has already formed?

What’s true

Intact paint reduces further rusting by limiting water and oxygen contact.